Articulated car



July 27, 1937. T. H. SCHOEPF ET AL 2,088,488 ARTICULA'IED CAR Filea Feb. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arm/PM;

Patented July 27, 1937 2,088,488 PATENT O FICE:

ARTICULATED oAR Theodore H. .Schoepf and David M. Ritchie, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors t0. The.v Cincinnati Traction Bldg. Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application February 15, 1935, sat-.1 No. 6,629 I invention relates to articulated cars.

Itis an object of our invention to provide an articulated construction between railway cars. It is theparticular object of the invention to 5 providean articulation which permitsthe cars being separated withoutelevating the cars to remove the trunnions from the center plates or sockets.

The object is to provide a two-part center plate, orsocket, that can be used as a single socket or "as a single body having a plurality of sockets,

and which can be split in two parts when desired. When so split the two-part center plate is still engaged with the respective trunnion of the respective-car with which the half of the center plate is associated. By our invention it is possible to detach one car from the other without demounting the trunnion from the particular socket iri which it normally rests, or the particular half of the socket in which it normally rests.

A further important object is the provision of a socket or center plate surface described about the center of the movement of concentric interlocking trunnions, while at the same time permitting each trunnion a bearing face engaging wtwith the respective half of the bifurcated socket in" which it rests. The engaging faces are described about the same center of movement heretofore referred to.

It is a further object to provide a support f0r the'vestibule for universal movement about from one another, when the the same center of description.

It is also an object to provide for the support of this vestibule so that it will rotate with the bolster upon which the center plate or socket is mounted, and it will be permitted to work within a limited'degree about the center of movement of'the trunnions.

It is a further object to provide for the supporting of the vestibule or the vestibule platform,

.;or'both, in overlapping relationship with respect tothe ends of the car bodies in such a position that the floor of the vestibule is maintained in substantial alignment with the floors of the cars.

"It is a definite object to support the vestibule -;floor either with or without the vestibule casing within one of the trunnions so that when the trunnions are separated, upon the separation of the bifurcated center plate, the vestibule will travel with one of the cars and will be supported tion of both cars at their articulated ends in'order to separate them. By the present invention the unlockingof the halves of the center plate permits the withdrawal substantially horizontally of one car from the other.

,-While the trunnions are interlocked in service they are so arranged as to slide horizontally away in the trunnion of the car with which it travels.

halves of the center 18 Claims. (c1..1o .4,)

purpose. Under the present method'it is necessary 5 to completely dismantle the trunnions from one another and from the socket plate or'center plate, and it is necessary to give special treatment to 'the vestibule", both in assembling and disassembling." It is necessary to use heavy cranes, with special cradles, in order to pull the cars apart and supportthem when it is necessary to inspect the trunnion joints, and lubricate. The present invention eliminates these disadvantages.

The present articulated cars do not provide .for universal movement of the trunnions and the support for the vestibule about a common center. They do not provide broad bearing surfaces for end thrust. They do not provide for'closely' en:- gaging interlocking faces without lost motion, or taking e'nd thrust. In the present case the end thrust istaken directly through the trunnions, and the center platei's primarily usedfor its nor-' mal function of support. The present invention further permits of free movementof' the trun 2r} nions about the center of all rotation to accommodate .torsionaltwists, due to super-elevation of rails in curves, and changes, of position, due to breaks in grade.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is aside elevation, partially I illustrating the upper portion of a bolster, the dividedcenter plate, the trunnions, the end sill castings, the car platform and the overlapping vestibule platform and the lower portion of the vestibule. Figurez is a section on-the line 2-2 of'Fig ure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure'3is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; looking in the direction-of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of. the center plate showingthe upper-end'of the stud 3|, and itis around this stud that the trunnions center 'in turning'when the cars are directed by the tracks tothe right or the left. 7, Referring to the drawings in detail, is a transverse bolster mounted on a conventional truck. This single truck is adapted to support the car bodies 2 and 3. Mounted'on the bolster I is a divided casing comprised of the quarters '50; 4,5, 6 and'l; The-.quarters 4 and 5 make onehalf of the -casing,. and the quarters 6 and 1 form the other half of the casing, the halves being connected together by the bolts 8 and 9. r

The respective halves are provided with later- 5 ally extending flanges II], whichare engaged by the bolts H on either sideofthe assembled casing. These bolts pass through the bolster I. Each half is retained on the bolster by ."the bolts-"l2, l3, I4 and |5,'with associated lockingmechanism.

fit

The casing halves when assembled are provided with shoulders I6 and l! for engaging with the sides of the transverse bolster I. This casing when assembled forms an open-ended cylinder, the bottom of which is closed by the top of the bolster I, and the top of which is open. Fitted within this cylinder are the halves l8 and I8, which constitute the socket or center plate bearing. The inner surface of; these halves form a semi-spherical surface described about the center 28. The upper margin of thissemi-spherlcal surface is provided with an over-hanging flange 2| to prevent the withdrawal vertically of the trunnions, hereinafter described.

The right-hand trunnion consists of a portion of a sphere, designated 22, having a surface 23 described about the center 20 and engaging with a similar surface 24 of the trunnion 25, shown in section. Both of these trunnions have their outer surfaces described about the center 20 so that they engage with and fit the halves l8 and IQ of the center plate. Both of these trunnions are provided, with shoulders 26 and 21, which engage with the overhanging flange 2| to prevent withdrawal vertically of the trunnions when in operation. A space is left at 28 between the faces 29 and 38 of these trunnions to accommodate a stud 3|, which is located at the bottom of the center plate. The purpose of the stud 3i isto hold the trunnions from sliding out of the center bearing plate, when the car bodies are separated,

and when, therefore, the trunnions are separated from each other. This occurs'when one car is backed off from the other, or when both cars are moved in a direction away from each other. That is' the time that the stud 3| functions to keep the part of the trunnion on the right, and

the part of the trunnion on the left, from coming out of the halves I8 and I9, respectively, of the center bearing plate.

The right-hand trunnion 22 is provided with an open-endedpassageway 32, the bottom of which is semi-spherical, as at 33, for receiving the ball 34. This ball and its receiving surface 33 have their surfaces described about the same center 28. Mounted upon this ball is the supporting pillar 35 for the floor 36 of the vestibule, which has the vestibule walls 31. It will be noted that this floor'overlaps the ends of the cars 2 and 3 formed by the end sillcastings 38 and 39 that carry the respective trunnions 22 and 25. These trunnions aremounted upon the under sides of the end sill castings 38 and 39 and depend therefrom. All movements of the vestibule and the car bodies,'whether about a vertical axis or a horizontal axis, are made about the center 20 as these axes pass in vertical and horizontal directions throughthe center 20.

The pillar or column 35 is provided with a laterally and downwardly extending yoke 40. This yoke is mounted at 4| on the column 35, between the end sill castings 38 and 39. It extends outwardly and thence downwardlyso that its lower ends 42 enter receiving-sockets 43 in the upper margins on opposite sides of the casing. This causes the vestibule and column 35 to rotate with the bolster I, while at the same time permitting free rocking movement of the vestibule to accommodate itself to the movements of the car bodies so that its floor can be aligned substantially with the floors of the cars 2 and 3.

r 3 loperatio'n When it is desired to disassemble the joint, the

bolts 8 and 9 are removed, the bolts l2, l3, l4

. moved horizontally away from the bolster I, carrying with it its half of the socket plate, while the other half of the socket plate and the other car body, with its trunnion, are supported by the bolster. It is preferable to remove the left-hand body and trunnion because that leaves the righthand body,.socket plate and trunnion on the bolster, and the trunnion 22 then supports the vestibule platform 38 without disturbing that platform. Likewise, the cars can be assembled by reversing the steps just indicated. By providing the overlapping halves of the casing around the abutting halves of the socket plate the planes of division of the'casing and socket plate are at right angles to one another. strength and security in the. articulation. It will be understood that we desire to com- This provides II prehend within our invention such modifications as come withinthe scope of the claims'and the invention. 1

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

I 1. In an articulated car construction-the com bination of a divided'center' plate, trunnionsmounted in said center plateto permit horizontal and vertical movement of the car bodies,

said trunnions being so'arranged as to be sup-: ported by said center plate as ito transmit thrusts from the car bodies through said trunnions; and-'5. means for detachably attaching at least a part of said center plate to a truck bolster supportmovement thereof. I 2, In an articulated car construction, a bolster,

trunnions on the respective cars, and a separable center plate mounted on said bolster, and divided on a vertical line, and adapted to supportsaid trunnions, whereby one trunnion with its car body and the-portion of the center plate occupied,

by it may be removed without disturbing the remainder of the combination.

3. In anarticulated car construction, a bolster,:

trunnions on the respective cars, a separable cen-' ter plate mountedon said bolster, and divided.

on a vertical line and adapted to support said.

trunnions, whereby one trunnion with its car body andthe portion of the center plate occupied by it may beremoved without disturbing the ,re-- mainder of the combination, and means of :sup-- porting a vestibule in overlapping position with 1 respect to the car bodies when the articulation is assembled so arranged that when the trunnions and one portion of the center plate are disassem-T bled the support and positioningof the vestibule are not disturbed.

'4. In combination, a pairof car bodies having depending trunnions, a vertically divided 'cen-" ter plate for receiving said trunnions, and a truck bolster for' supporting 'said center plate.

g 5; In combination, a pair of car bodies having" depending trunnions, a vertically divided center 1 plate for receiving said trunnions, a'nd a"truck' bolster for supporting said center plate, said common center.

' trunnions having arcuate faces described about a 1 6. In combination, a pair of car bodies having depending trunnions, a divided center plate for receiving said trunnions, a truck bolster for supporting said center plate, said trunnions having arcuate faces described about a common center,

and means on one of said trunnions for interengaging with the other of said trunnions, the engaging faces of said trunnions being described about said common center but so arranged as to permit of lateral movement for disengagement of one trunnion from the other without disturbing the vertical position of said trunnions.

w '7. In combination, a bolster, a vertically divided center plate, at least one half of which is detachably mounted on said bolster, and car bodies having trunnions thereon mounted within said center plate for vertical and horizontal movement of the bodies about a common axial point.

8. In combination, a bolster, a divided center plate, at least one-half of which is detachably mounted on said bolster, car bodies having trunnions thereon mounted within said center plate for vertical and horizontal movements of the bodies about a common axial center, said trunnions extending one within the other to keep the trunnions positioned with respect to the center plate, and interengaging features on the trunnions and center plate to keep the trunnions from vertical dislodgment from the center plate.

9. In combination, a bolster, a divided casing anchored on said bolster, a divided center plate mounted on said bolster within said casing, ad-

jacent car bodies having depending trunnions pivotally mounted in said center plate, said trunnions being so arranged that upon the removal of said casing and the movement of onehalf of said center plate the car bodies with their trunnions may be separated laterally without vertical movement.

10..In combination, a bolster, a divided casing anchored on said bolster, a divided center plate mounted on said bolster within said casing, adjacent car bodies having depending trunnions pivotally mounted in said center plate, said trunnions being so arranged that upon the removal of said casing and the movement of one-half of said center plate the car bodies with their trunnions may be separated laterally without vertical movement, and means on one trunnion for interengaging with the other trunnion to provide a semi-spherical thrust surface between said trunnions.

11. In combination, a bolster, a divided casing anchored on said bolster, a divided center plate mounted on said bolster within said casing, adjacent car bodies having depending trunnions pivotally mounted in said center plate, said trunnions being so arranged that upon the removal of said casing and the movement of one-half of said center plate the car bodies with their trunnions may be separated laterally without vertical movement, means on one trunnion for interengaging with the other trunnion to provide a semispherical thrust surface between said trunnions, a vestibule, and means in one of said trunnions for supporting said vestibule.

12. In combination, a bolster, a divided casing anchored on said bolster, a divided center plate mounted on said bolster within said casing, adjacent car bodies having depending trunnions pivotally mounted in said center plate,

said trunnions being so arranged that upon the removal of said casing and the movement of one-half of said center plate the car bodies with their trunnions may be separated laterally without vertical movement, means on one trunnion for interengaging with the other trunnion to provide a semi-spherical thrust surface between said trunnions, a vestibule, means in one of said trunnions for supporting said vestibule, and means associated wtih said vestibule-supporting means for causing said vestibule to rotate with said bolster.

13. In combination, a bolster, a divided casing anchored on said bolster, a divided center plate mounted on said bolster Within said casing, adjacent car bodies having depending trunnions pivotally mounted in said center p1ate, said trunnions being so arranged that upon the removal of said casing and the movement of onehalf of said center plate the car bodies with their trunnions may be separated laterally without vertical movement, means on one trunnion for interengaging with the other trunnion to provide a semi-spherical thrust surface between said trunnions, a vestibule, means in one of said trunnions for supporting said vestibule, said vestibule-supporting means being so arranged as to permit of universal movement within said trunnion about the common axial point of movement of the trunnions with respect to one another and with respect to the center plate.

14. In combination, a bolster, a center plate mounted on said bolster, adjacent car bodies, each having a trunnion pivotally mounted in, and located upon, said center plate, a. vestibule, and means supporting said vestibule and pivotally mounted in one of said trunnions.

15. In combination, a bolster, a center plate mounted on said bolster, adjacent car bodies each having a trunnion pivotally mounted in, and located upon, said center plate, one of said trunnions having a recess, and the other of said trunnions having a projection opposite said recess and adapted to fit in such recess, a vestibule, and means supporting said vestibule, such means being pivotally mounted within one of said trunnions about the common center of movement of said trunnions in said center plate.

16. In combination, a bolster, a center plate mounted on said bolster, adjacent car bodies each having a trunnion pivotally mounted in said center plate, a vestibule, means for supporting said vestibule and pivotally mounted in one of said trunnions, and means on said vestibulesupporting means for causing said vestibule to turn with said bolster.

17. In combination, a bolster, a divided center plate mounted on said bolster, adjacent car bodies having trunnions pivotally mounted in said center plate, a vestibule overlapping said trunnions, and means of supporting said vestibule on one of said trunnions for pivotal movement.

18. In combination, a bolster, a divided center plate mounted on said bolster, adjacent car bodies having trunnions pivotally mounted in said center plate, a vestibule overlapping said trunnions, and means of supporting said vestibule on one of said trunnions for pivotal movement about a common center on which the faces of the trunnions and the face of the center plate are described.

THEODORE H. SCHOEPF. DAVID M. RITCHIE. 

